Burial device and method for using same

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a reusable casket having an open top, and a removable insert sized to slidably fit within the reusable casket and adapted to be slidably removed from the top of the reusable casket. The insert has a detached lid which is sized to fit in covering relationship over the top of the insert after the insert has been removed from the casket. The lid of the insert includes vent holes therein, at one end, and the insert includes an exhaust hole at the other end thereof for permitting ventilation of the insert when it is placed within a mausoleum crypt.

United States Patent 1191 Doggett May 14, 1974 [54] BURIAL DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR l,821,760 9/1931 Leitch 27/35 USING SAME 2,665,471 H1954Gould 2,516,488 7/1950 Smith 27/1 1 Charles F. Doggett, Des Moines, IowaAssignee: Hawkeye Machinery Corporation,

Waukee, Iowa Filed: Apr. 17, 1972 Appl. No.: 244,477

Inventor:

US. Cl 27/35, 27/19, 52/131 Int. Cl. .1 A6lg 17/00 Field of Search 27/3,6, 7, 35, 2, l9,

27/ll, 4, 5;52/l31,128,129

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Richard A.Gaudet Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley,McKee & Thomte 57 ABSTRACT The present invention comprises a reusablecasket having an open top, and a removable insert sized to slidably fitwithin the reusable casket and adapted to be slidably removed from thetop of the reusable casket. The insert has a detached lid which is sizedto fit in covering relationship over the top of the insert after theinsert has been removed from the casket. The lid of the insert includesvent holes therein, at one end, and the insert includes an exhaust holeat the other end thereof for permitting ventilation of the insert whenit is placed within a mausoleum crypt.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 BURIAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SAMEThe present invention relates generally to burial devices andparticularly to a burial device which utilizes a reusable casket and aninsert which may be removed therefrom for burial in a crypt.

One of the major burial expenses is the expense of a decorative casketfor the funeral services. Under present methods, the casket is purchasedand used for the ceremony, and then is finally buried never to be seenagain. The present invention contemplates improvement upon the presentdevices in that it permits any conventional ornamental casket to be usedover and over again.

Another problem presently encountered with burial in mausoleums is theproblem of odors which emanate from the various crypts. Various methodsof ventilation have been tried, but heretofore they have been highlyexpensive or totally unsatisfactory. The present invention contemplatesa simple method in ventilating the containers within the crypts so thatodors will not be present in the hallways and areas leading to thecrypts.

Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision ofa decorative casket which is reusable.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a reusablecasket which includes a removable insert which can be removed from thecasket and sealed for internment after the ceremony.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a burialdevice which may be easily constructed and which is adaptable to eitherinternment in a mausoleum or to underground burial.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a burialdevice which includes means for permitting thorough ventilation of thecontainer when the container is within a mausoleum crypt.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a burialdevice which is economical to manufacture and easy to use.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the burial device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken alone line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the burial container within amausoleum crypt.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second modified form of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a burial device includes a reusable casket l2,' anda removable insert container 14. Reusable casket 12 includes a bottomwall 16 (FIG. 2), ahead wall 18, a foot wall 20, and two side walls 22,24. Hinged along one of the upper edges of reusable casket 12 by meansof piano hinges 26 F IG. 2) are two hinged doors 28, 30 which are ofconventional construction and which are commonly used in casketspresently known.

Extending around the upper edges of walls 18, 20, 22, 24 is an upwardlypresented shoulder 32. The interior of reusable casket 12 does not.include upholstery as in conventional caskets but instead is adapted toreceive insert 14.

Insert 14 includes a bottom wall 34, a head wall 36, a foot wall 38, andtwo side walls 40, 42. Extending around the upper edges of walls 36, 38,40 and 42 is an outwardly projecting annular lip 44. A vacuum hole 46extends through the lower portion of side wall 42 adja cent head wall36. Vacuum hole 46 is provided with a coupling 48 which is adapted to beconnected to a vacuum hose 50. The interior of an insert container 14 isprovided with upholstery 52 which is of the type presently found on theinterior of conventional caskets.

For the funeral ceremonies insert 14 is slidably fitted within reusablecasket 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Annular lip 44 rests on upwardly presentedshoulder 32 so as to provide support for container 14 and so as to givethe appearance that container 14 is an integral part of reusable casket12. After the ceremony insert 14 may be lifted out of reusable casket12, and reusable casket 12 may again be used for another container andanother funeral ceremony. Container 14 is then fitted with a lid 54which is sized to fit against the upper surface of annular lip 44. Lid54 may then be permanently secured over the top of container 14 by meansof mastic or other desirable adhesive. Lid 54 includes vent holes 56which are adapted to be adjacent foot wall 38 of container 14. Sinceventilation of container 14 is not necessary for underground burial, acap 58 is provided which may be permanently secured over vent holes 56in the event that the container 14 is used for underground burial. Cap58 would not be used if container 14 is used for burial in a mausoleum.

Referring to FIG. 3, container 14 is shown enclosed within a mausoleumcrypt 60. Crypt 60 includes a ventilation inlet 62 at one end thereofand a vacuum outlet 64 at the opposite end thereof. Outlet 64 ispreferably positioned adjacent the.end of crypt 60 which is open forplacing container 14 therein.

Vacuum hose 50 interconnects vacuum hole 46 of container 14 to vacuumoutlet 64. Vacuum outlet 64 is connected to a vacuum source which isadapted to draw air out of crypt 60. Ventilation inlet 62 may either beof the gravity type, or it may be provided with a forced air systemwhich forces air into crypt 60 through inlet 62. In operation the vacuumis applied to the interior of container 14 by means of vacuum hose 50and vacuum outlet 64. The vacuum created within container 14 causes thefresh air from inlet 62 to be forced through vent holes 56 in lid 54 ofcontainer 14. The air thus enters through vent holes 56, passes from oneend of container 14 to the other and exits through vacuum hole 46 ofcontainer 14. It will be noted that this method of ventilation preventsany gases or fumes from the interior of container 14 to enter into thecrypt 60 in the space surrounding container 14. Thus the chances ofodors being introduced into crypt 60 are minimized and consequentlyodors are not emitted to the hallway or room adjacent to crypt 60.Furthermore, the air system passes through the full length of container14 so as to provide thorough ventilation therein.

The insert 14 may be constructed of any desirable material. For exampleit may be molded from fiberglas or plastic. It could also be made from acombustible material which would make it equally adapable forunderground burial, mausoleum burial, or cremation.

Referring to FIG. 4, a modification of the present invention is shownutilizing an end door 66 for the removable of container 14 from theinterior of reusable casket 12. FIG. 5 illustrates another modificationwherein a hinged bottom wall 68 is provided in reuable casket 12 so asto permit the removal of insert 14 from the bottom of reusable casket12. Wall 68 is provided with a plurality of latches 70 so as to permitwall 68 to be secured in its closed position when container 14 is withincasket 12. Likewise, end wall 66 of FIG. 4 is provided with a similarlatch 72.

From the foregoing it can be seen that casket 12 can be reused anynumber of times, thereby reducing the cost of funeral services. Onlyinsert 14 is utilized permanently, and therefore the customer need onlypay for insert 14 which would be considerably less expensive due to thefact that it is not necessary to provide insert 14 with decorativefeatures. Furthermore, the container of the present invention may beeasily ventilated in a mausoleum crypt so as to eliminate noxious 4,odors in the mausoleum. Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishesat least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. A method for burial comprising inserting a removable rigid containerhaving an open top and a lining on the interior thereof within areusable decorative casket having an open top; supporting said containerwithin said casket during burial ceremonies; removing said containerfrom said casket after said ceremonies by lifting said containerupwardly out of said open top of said casket; placing a lid over saidtop of said container; sealing said lid over said top of said container;and placing said container within a place of interment.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising applying a vacuum to anopening at one end of said container so as to draw fresh air inwardlythrough a second opening in said container and to draw air and gases outof said container through said first mentioned opening.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said container is placed withina burial crypt.

1. A method for burial comprising inserting a removable rigid containerhaving an open top and a lining on the interior thereof within areusable decorative casket having an open top; supporting said containerwithin said casket during burial ceremonies; removing said containerfrom said casket after said ceremonies by lifting said containerupwardly out of said open top of said casket; placing a lid over saidtop of said container; sealing said lid over said top of said container;and placing said container within a place of interment.
 2. A methodaccording to claim 1 comprising applying a vacuum to an opening at oneend of said container so as to draw fresh air inwardly through a secondopening in said container and to draw air and gases out of saidcontainer through said first mentioned opening.
 3. A method according toclaim 2 wherein said container is placed within a burial crypt.